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Tag Archives: Værbitt
Andor and Ovedine in Familien Vinterstrikk 2021
The next special knitting issue magazine by the Norwegian magazine Familien is out, it is called “Vinterstrikk/Winter Knits” and I am so fortunate to have two designs in the magazine. Both are knitted in the pelt wool yarn from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk; The poncho Andor in the thicker Tinde and the shawl Ovedine in Sølje in two hand dyed shades by Værbitt. On the cover is “Snøfall” by Kari Hestnes.
Andor comes in one size with bust circumference of 212 cm/83.5” and a length of 72 cm/28.25″. Above you see it worn by the gorgeous Alexandria Eissinger captured by Eivind Røhne at Villa Malla by the Oslo Fjord, back in June 2016. The pattern in English, Japanese and Norwegian is available on Ravelry and in English on LoveCrafts.
A trendy oversized poncho defined by its pairs of ornamental cables on each wide shoulder part. The stockinette center part is crowned by a high neck collar. The poncho has side bands that can be closed with buttons. It is knitted flat in two parts with shoulder and neck shaping. Andor is the Norse element for Eagle and its wingspan appropriate for this poncho.
Ovedine comes in one size with a wingspan of 162 cm/64″, a widest point width of 42 cm/16.5″ and a narrowest point width of 12 cm/4.75″. Above you see it worn by the beautiful Olivia Lindtein, with hair & make up by Erica Poppe and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne at Mortensrud Church in November last year.
The shawl/wrap/scarf is knitted in two colours: Drageegg, Værbitt hand dyed on Sølje pelsull by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk (100% pelt wool, 100 g, 350 m/383 yds): 2 skeins: 497 m/544 yds and Lillebror, Værbitt hand dyed on Sølje pelsull: 1 skein; 315 m/344 yds.
Named after an old female name from Norway is this shawl with tucks, short rows and garter stitch stripes in two colors. The hem and one tuck made on the wrong side, in addition to the double I-cord bind off, make the shawl two-sided. Choose if you want to wear it as a shawl, or a wrap around your body or as a shawl collar. Ovedine is knitted in two gorgeous hand dyed shades by Værbitt on the pelt wool Sølje from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.
Ovedine is available in English and Norwegian on Ravelry and on LoveCrafts. The “Familien Vinterstrikk” magazine is available from selected grocery stores and newsagents but can also be ordered in Norway by sending an SMS with VS21 to 2205.
Strikk & Chill at Lilleborg in Oslo
I spent last Saturday at Lilleborg (named after the first soap “boilery” from 1833), next to Akerselva, in Oslo having a stand at the Strikk/Knit & Chill event organised by Værbitt – the yarn shop & yarn dyer. Værbitt moved to Lilleborg earlier this summer from smaller premises at Grünerløkka, also in Oslo. For the first time I had a stand at a knitting event as I had printed pattern with Ravelry download codes, copies of the Norwegian book “Norsk strikkedesign. Strikk din favoritt” and a selection of design samples for sale. I was invited to take part by owner and yarn dyer of Værbitt Laila Henriksen, a week earlier when I visited her new shop. Above you see my stand next to the entrance to Værbitt talking to Tuva Hoen of Norne Yarn, a friend, and Lotte Holmboe aka osloknitter.
Michael spent nearly a week printing patterns, making labels and signs for me. By the time we arrived Saturday morning, the sun was shining and it looked like we would have a perfect summer’s day. Above you see the announcement Værbitt posted on Instagram earlier in August, listing some of the participating vendors.
I was wearing my design Ravna, first published in the final issue of the Norwegian magazine Bladet garn, knitted in Lille Persille/Little Parsley hand dyed by Værbitt on Sølje pelt yarn by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, see the top photo. Above you see a photo Michael took of me talking to Tuva of Norne Yarn, who sponsored yarn for my design Milana and the upcoming Varun. Tuva told me that she had been busying dying a large order for Woollinn in Dublin, hence she had not had the time to dye for this event.
There were a lot of knitters queuing to get into the Værbitt shop during the day and only six were allowed at one time due to the Corona restrictions. I was glad that I brought a hat as I was baking in the sunshine in the late afternoon.
Above is a photo Michael took from inside the shop. You can see the shelves filled with Hillesvåg yarns and Værbitt’s own hand dyed colours!
There were many knitters sitting outside knitting in the sunshine and Michael captured the stylish Tuva in action. I spent the day speaking to knitters, designer Kristin Wiola Ødegård, Spinnvilt (the spinning shop next door) friends of Michael including the property developer – and former neighbour of ours Bekkelaget – Per-Johan Placht in charge of the commercial premises at Lilleborg! I had a fabulous day with some sales and even some time to knit too!
Photoshoot at Mortensrud Church: Ovedine
Ovedine was designed for Værbitt’s Advents Calendar last December and have also been published in the issue 4/2019 of “På Pinnen“/On the Needle, a membership magazine for the Norsk Strikkeforbund/Norwegian Knitting Association, so you have seen some of these photos before but not all of them. Ovedine is knitted in two hand dyed colours, by Værbitt, on Sølje pelt wool by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Above you see it worn as a scarf by the gorgeous Olivia Lindtein, with hair & make up by Erica Poppe and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne at Mortensrud Church in November last year. I love these serene photos and want to thank my amazing team for all their work!
Named after an old female name from Norway is this shawl with tucks, short rows and garter stitch stripes in two colors. The hem and one tuck made on the wrong side, in addition to the double I-cord bind off, make the shawl two-sided. Choose if you want to wear it as a shawl, or a wrap around your body or as a shawl collar. Ovedine is knitted in two gorgeous hand dyed shades by Værbitt on the pelt wool Sølje from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.
I choose to style this shawl with a long black silk skirt and a top, but it can be worn with a more casual outfit as well. We photographed this upstairs in the church with a magic light coming through the large windows.
The shawl is made in one size, but can easily be adjusted if you prefer. The finished wingspan is 162 cm/64”, the width at widest point is 42 cm/16.5” and the width at narrowest point is 12 cm/4.75”. Ovedine is knitted using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle for the garter stitch sections and 3.5 mm/US 4 for the tucks.
The divine turquoise colour is Drageegg, Værbitt hand dyed on Sølje pelsull by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk made of 100% pelt wool on 100 gram skeins with 350 m/383 yds on each skein. You need 2 skeins in this or your preferred main colour; 497 m/544 yds. Lillebror is the darker blue colour also hand dyed by Værbitt on Sølje pelsull. Only 1 skein in this or your preferred contrast colour is needed; 315 m/344 yds.
Ovedine is knitted with a looser than recommended gauge of 21 sts and 40 rows in garter stitch using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle measures 10 cm/4 square. 21 stitches and 32 rows in st st using 3.5 mm/US 4 needle measures 10 cm/4” square.
Both the Norwegian and English pattern is available from my Ravelry store and from Lovecrafts.
Last out in this series of photos from Mortensrud Church is the new ones of the Harding Cardigan coming next week.
New Design: Rebine
Just as promised here is the skirt Rebine, designed for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, knitted in the Tinde pelt wool yarn, using a 3.5 mm/US 4 needle by the skilled sample knitter Kristin Nygård, aka quiltefeen! One of my patrons, Tamar aka tamari.joy on Instagram, suggested I design a pencil skirt and I loved that idea. Hence Rebine was designed before I made Jendine to go with it, so you would have a set option if you so desire. I wanted it to sit properly and be as flattering as possible, so I shaped it for both the hip and the waist. The pattern stitch I selected was a cable rib. Instead of inserting an elastic for the waist, I chose a high waist and made belt loops that are inserted into the seam in the side.
Rebine, an old Norwegian name, is a pencil skirt with an all over elegant cable pattern ending in a high waist. The skirt is shaped for the hip and the waist. Belt loops, inserted in each side seam, hold the skirt in place. Rebine is knitted in Tinde pelt wool by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Below you see the skirt worn with Ovedine, knitted in the thinner Sølje Pelsull, hand dyed by Værbitt in two colours: Drageegg and Lillebror.
The Tinde Pelsull is made of 100% pelt wool with 260 meters/284 yards on each 100 gram skein. The sample is knitted in Lys Marine 2125 and requires only 3 skeins in the two smallest sizes. Rebine is knitted with a 21 stitches and 30 rows in Stockinette stitch gauge measuring 10 cm/4″ square.
In these photos taken by Michael in Barcelona last November, I am wearing size Small with a 92 cm/36.25″ hip measurement. I have graded the skirt in sizes XS to 3XL with hip measurements from 86 to 132 cm/33.75 to 52″. Due to the cable rib pattern, the skirt is very elastic.
The skirt is worked in pieces from the bottom and up. Make two belt straps to insert in the side seam. If you want to adjust the length of the skirt, remove up to 8 cm/3.25″ or add an extra length before shaping the hip.
The test knit of Jendine begins on the 16th of March and it is followed by a test knit for Rebine on the 6th of April, both in my Ravelry group. Yarn kits for both designs will be available from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. I look forward to showing you how this set looked on my model Olivia Lindtein!
New Design: Ovedine
Værbitt, aka Laila Henriksen, asked me this autumn if I wanted to design a small accessory for the Advents Calendar she was planning to sell on her yarn shop website. Laila hand dyes so many gorgeous shades and I am especially fond of her colours on Sølje and Tinde pelt wool by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. I got to choose colours from her shop and loved “Dragegg”/Dragon Egg in green turquoise shades and “Lillebror”/Little Brother in darker navy shades the most. What should I design? I pondered for awhile and ended on a shawl or a wrap. How about a shawl you can wrap around you but also use as a scarf or a collar? Ovedine was born. Above you see me wearing it as a scarf, together with the new skirt Rebine I have designed for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk knitted in Tinde, photographed by Michael in Barcelona. We somehow ended up photographing on the coldest afternoon while we were there, which is so typical and why I look cold.
Named after an old female name from Norway is this shawl with tucks, short rows and garter stitch stripes in two colors. The hem and one tuck made on the wrong side, in addition to the double I-cord bind off, make the shawl two-sided. Choose if you want to wear it as a shawl, or a wrap around your body or as a shawl collar. Ovedine is knitted in two gorgeous hand dyed shades by Værbitt on the pelt wool Sølje from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.
I developed further my earlier design Saqqara, but choose garter stitch instead of lace to show of the subtle depth of the colours and added more tucks. The tucks I worked in both the colours and I decided to do the same with the I-cord bind off.
Ovedine is knitted using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle for the garter stitch and 3.5 mm/US 4 needle for the tucks as well as the I-cord bind offs. The gauge is 21 stitches and 32 rows in stockinette stitch using 3.5 mm/US 4 needle so it is knitted with a loose gauge for the sportweight yarn. Ovedine requires 497 m/544 yds of Drageegg (2 skeins) and 315 m/344 yds (1 skein) of Lillebror, both dyed on Sølje from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Each skein of Sølje has 350 m/383 yds on 100 g.
The pattern is already available from my Ravelry store and from Love Crafts in both English and Norwegian. I will soon share with you the brilliant photos Eivind Røhne took of model Olivia Lindtein at Mortensrud Church of this shawl.
Ravna in Bladet garn 10/2019
Co-editor of Bladet garn Solveig Jensen Engevold asked me at the Oslo Strikkefestival in September if I wanted to contribute with a design to their last ever issue. How could I refuse, especially since I had said a couple of years back that I would? I had also just spotted several gorgeous hand dyed shades by Værbitt, aka Laila Henriksen, on Sølje, pelt wool from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Solveig said yes to this colour, Laila offered to hand dye on sponsored yarn from Hillesvåg for the magazine. So it was my turn to make design something special with the yarn and I thought I could easily do it in time for the deadline by mid-October. Solveig did grant me an extra week and I did make Ravna on time, despite knitting the bottom of the back several times. The brilliant photos are taken by Solveig and the one above fills the first page you see when you open the magazine next to the leader by Solveig and co-editor Unni Cathrine Eiken. It is after all a celebratory issue!
The four year old magazine goes out with a bang and presents seven new designs, as well as a pattern cavalcade; eleven designs printed in previous issues. On the cover is “Øst Genser” by Marte Nilssen knitted in a thicker version of the pelt wool called Blåne from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. I wish to thank the editors for the inspiration and good luck on their future paths!
Ravna is an historic name from northern Norway, her charisma is given to this a-line pullover with a longer flowing shirt tail back. A cable medallion adorns the spine which is crowned by a high garter stitch collar. All the sides are marked by a strong garter stitch edge presence. Ravna is knitted in a divine hand dyed shade from Værbitt called Little Parsley, based on a childrens’ rhyme, on Sølje, pelt wool from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.
I love this cable medallion that I found in Norah Gaughan’s inspiring Knitted Cable Sourcebook. I placed one at the center on the front and the back. The sleeves have a rib panel in the center because it shows off the colours in this hand dyed green so well and because the cable was too wide to fit.
My plan was to knit size Small but I calculated wrong and it turned into size Medium with a bust circumference of 98 cm/38.5″. I then decided to grade this pullover all the way from size XS to 5XL for the magazine. The bust circumference goes from 82 cm to 156 cm/32.25 to 61.5″. Ravna is knitted using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle with a gauge of 24 stitches and 32 rows in stockinette stitch measures 10 cm/4″ square after blocking.
The pullover is worked in pieces and seamed. The back has one more cable repeat and the center garter stitch band is twice as high as front garter stitch band. The side seam ends in the narrow part of the garter stich band. The collar is worked in the round and ends with an I-cord bind off.
The Norwegian magazine can be ordered directly from Bladet garn’s website in a digital format or in both a digital format and in print. Only a few of their stockists have this issue in stock. You can see all the patterns in the magazine on Ravelry.
Ravna will be available in English as a digital download, in my Ravelry store and on LoveCrafts, after the test knitting, beginning in early January, has been completed by mid-February.
Oslo Strikkefestival 2019
I have spent an exciting weekend at Oslo Strikkefestival/Knitting Festival and since I was not teaching I had the opportunity to sign up to workshops but due to the packed program it was difficult to choose. Last time I attended a workshop was at Strik Bornholm in 2014 with Norah Gaughan. I picked three in the end, all held in English by; Canadian Artist/Maker Arounna Khonnoraj, aka Bookhou; American Designer Renate Yerkes, aka Elephino PDX; and American designer Jennifer Steingass, aka knit.love.wool. I have learnt several tips on the Social Media front, how to work double knitting and more in depth on colorwork design. Above you can see the Lain’amouree stand.
I discovered new yarns at the Market Place, got to fondle quite a number of lush yarns, met designers, knitters and yarn producers. I stopped Eli, aka Skeindeer, to introduce myself and I spotted Stephen West in his colourful designs. The festival was held at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History at Bygdøy, in the different historic buildings with the main attraction being the Gol Stave Church dating back to 1200. Like most of the tourists, I preferred to take the ferry from Aker Brygge/Wharf instead of the very full bus. Above is the Garthenor stand. “Garthenor Organic have produced exclusively organic yarn in the UK since 1999, being the first company in the world to gain organic certification for wool yarns from sheep to skein in 2003. They offer lovely certified organic, breed specific, fully traceable yarns in dyed and undyed shades. Nothing less than gorgeous!”
Instead of travelling from Ørje both days, I chose to stay with my mum in Oslo for the weekend. The market hall on the first day on Saturday was packed and with a queue to get into the second room. I spotted designer Kristin Wiola Ødegård in the queue and I exchanged position with her relieved husband. Below is another photo from “Lain’amouree is a hand dyed luxury wool brand from France offering a wide variety of soft and exclusive wools ranging from baby alpaca and silk, through mohair and merino, to yak and baby camel. Their colour palette is soft and delicate, and every colour has its own story— revealing itself stitch by stitch”.
While I was looking at yarns at the French Lain’amouree, Øyvind & Anette from Hillesvåg walked in together with designer Sidsel Høivik. They were heading for a talk by Erling Digernes of Rauma Ullvarefabrikk and I decided to join them. I enjoyed seeing old photographs of the factory and hearing about their production process.
After the talk I saw designer Marianne Skatten and her designer friend Rasa Ziburkute, aka galgendesign, who I met last time at Fefor Strikkefestival. We are all wearing our own designs in the rain. I asked if I could join them for lunch. We headed towards the coffee shop next to the entrance at the museum. It was packed with knitters and a fab place for sweater spotting.
Marianne and I had both booked the Social Media workshop, so we headed there after lunch. There were about 20 of us attending the class so we had ample opportunity to ask questions during Arounna’s presentation and after it. The workshop ended with her commenting on a few of the Instagram pages to some of the volunteers. I also had time for a quick spin in the knitting history exhibition at the museum and that is what you can spot above. Below is the full listing of the workshops I attended. I so enjoyed meeting these designers and learning new techniques, tips and ideas!
- Arounna Khonnoraj, Bookhou — Social Media and Marketing your Business Online.
- Renate Yerkes, Elephino PDX — Two Sides to This Story: The Dynamic World of Double Knitting.
- Jennifer Steingass — Introduction to Colorwork Design.
For the first time I could look at the bright coloured Garnsurr yarns. They had a stand outside in the courtyard. Here is the introduction from the Market Hall listing: “Garnsurr is a Norwegian social entrepreneurship hiring refugee women. The women in Garnsurr dye yarn for sale, knit and learn Norwegian, so this truly is hand dyed yarn with a purpose. They offer beautifully hand dyed yarn in unusual and often surprising combinations—a real colour explosion!”
Værbitt also had a stand in the courtyard. Above you see Laila’s friend looking after the shop while she was holding a workshop. The four last skeins on all rows are hand dyed on Sølje by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Here is the introduction to Værbitt from the Market Hall listing: “Værbitt Garn is an Oslo-based indie dyery working their colour magic on no-nonsense wool, aka yarn bases that are locally produced here in Norway. With great care for the environment they make sure the yarn is short travelled and made from the wool of happy sheep wandering freely.”
I also met Sophie from Pom Pom, who took a photo of my holding up last issue 27 issue 27 Winter 2018 magazine with my design Ataraxia for their Instagram story. The weather only cleared up later in the evening after the festival ended on Sunday at 5 PM. I went back to the centre on the ferry and had a walk on Aker Brygge/Wharf where a boat festival was ending and the boats were leaving. My head has been buzzing for a few days now, but my what a knitting festival it was! Oslo is a Knitting Capital, I agree with Ronja Cecilie Moås! Thank you for a fantastic festival!
Norsk Strikkedesign – Upcoming Book: Thia
I am taking part in a Norwegian book, called Norsk Strikkedesign/Norwegian Knit Design, together with 5 other designers, all with 5 designs each, that will be published early in October by Cappelen Damm (who also published my knitting book in Norwegian and sold it to a Finnish publisher). My former mentor Iselin Hafseld, who is also the editor and a participating designer, asked me at the end of last summer. When we all had agreed, the publisher’s editor Anne-Berit Tuft revealed the other 4 designers taking part: Arne & Carlos, Kari Hestnes, Bente Presterud and Birger Berge. I was thrilled with the company I am in, and that Iselin would be in charge of the photoshoot. The book was Anne-Berit’s idea and she suggested it should be launched before the Frankfurt Book Fair in October, where Norway is the Guest of Honour this year. We all hope that this will increase the possibility of it being sold by the Cappelen Damm Agency to foreign publishers, hence translated.
Above is the cover, the second version that is, and we are eagerly awaiting the next one. The photographer, you will recognize I belive, is Eivind Røhne. Below is my Thia jacket knitted in Tinde pelt wool by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk but hand dyed in Mikkel Rev/Michael the Fox (a child’s rhyme) shade in red/orange/pink by Laila Henriksen of Værbitt/Weather bitten in Oslo.
All my designs are made in Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Tinde pelt wool since Cappelen Damm preferred Norwegian yarn or at least yarns that are easily available in Norway. I also wanted to take advantage of the offer I had received several months back from yarn dyer and shop owner Laila Henriksen, who runs Værbitt/Weather bitten in Oslo. She hand dyes on Tinde and I had already fallen in love with her Mikkel Rev/Michael the Fox. Laila was delighted to take part in this project and dyed Mikkel Rev for a cardigan for me, especially. I just had to knit this one myself, while I asked my fantastic sample knitters: Grete Jenssen – aka ma9 on Ravelry – a turbo knitter and Kristin Nygård – aka Quiltefeen on Ravelry to make the remaining 4 projects: a pullover, cowl and beret with the same cable and a skirt. All are knitted using 3.5 mm/US 4 needles and a 21 stitches and 30 rows gauge per 10 cm/4″ square.
My initial idea was to make an outfit, including a beret and a skirt. I asked Laila for colour suggestion to go with her Mikkel Rev, she suggested Burgundy and Natural grey. I agreed and thought Burgundy looked best with it, so I decided to use it for the skirt, while the pullover and accessories are all made in Natural grey. As I did the finishing of the garments, I was no longer convinced they all fitted together, hence I suggested to Iselin to photograph the skirt and cardigan together.
Thia is a sweet fitted cardigan with a small extra rib above the waist, cables adorning the center framed by double seed stitch. The lower part is all in stockinette stitch to allow the beautiful hand-dyed Mikkel Rev on Tinde pelt wool by Værbitt shine with its colours and depth. Thia ends in a large collar that can be folded down.
Cappelen Damm wanted all the garments for women in size medium, so above you see me wearing Thia with more ease than intended. The pattern is graded from size XS to 2XL with a bust circumference (without front bands 2 cm/0.75″) from 84 to 126 cm/33 to 51.5″.
I invited a small number of my test knitters with sponsored yarn from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk to check all my 5 book patterns early this spring and I look forward to showing you their wonderful results! But first I will show you the Cian Pullover, Cian Cowl & Cian Beret and Damara Skirt.
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